About Constitution Day:
- It is also known as Samvidhan Divas and is celebrated every year on November 26 to commemorate the day the Constitution of India was adopted in 1949.
- Drafted under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s leadership, the Constitution aimed to ensure justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all Indian citizens.
- It finally came into effect on January 26, 1950, when India became a republic.
- In 2015, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the government designated November 26 as Constitution Day to promote constitutional values and coincide with Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary.
- Before this, the day was celebrated as Law Day.
Key Facts about Constituent Assembly of India:
- It was set up in 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
- The Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, and elected Dr. Sachhidanand Sinha, the oldest member of the Assembly, as the Provisional President.
- On December 11, 1946, the Assembly elected Dr. Rajendra Prasad as its permanent Chairman.
- As to its composition, members were chosen by indirect election by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies, according to the scheme recommended by the Cabinet Mission.
- The arrangement was:
- 292 members were elected through the Provincial Legislative Assemblies;
- 93 members represented the Indian Princely States;
- 4 members represented the Chief Commissioners' Provinces;
- The total membership of the Assembly thus was to be 389.
- However, as a result of the partition under the Mountbatten Plan of 3 June 1947, a separate Constituent Assembly was set up for Pakistan, and representatives of some Provinces ceased to be members of the Assembly.
- As a result, the membership of the Assembly was reduced to 299.
- The Constituent Assembly had 13 committees, including the drafting committee headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
- The Constitution took 3 years (1946-49) to complete the drafting. During this period, it held eleven sessions, covering a total of 165 days.
- The Constitution was adopted in 1949 when 284 members signed it, marking the completion of the Constitution-making process.
- The constitution went into effect in January 1950, and the CA was transformed into a Provisional Parliament.
